Conexant Is First to Offer Complete, Upgradable Internet Infrastructure Solution Using Network Processor Technology.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 13, 2000

Comprehensive, Programmable Solution For High-Speed Internet

Line Cards Makes It Easier For Networking Companies To Keep

Pace With Bandwidth Demands As They Build New

Routers, Switches And Other Equipment

Conexant Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CNXT) Tuesday unveiled the first complete chipset for enabling today's high-speed, network equipment to deliver dedicated, private-line digital services to organizations that require very high-capacity Internet connections.

Conexant's solution is also the first of its kind to use network processor technology to support higher speeds, advanced services and broader capabilities, all via software upgrades rather than requiring new, custom chips.

Conexant's octal (8-port) chipset performs all of the functions for high-speed digital signal at Level 3 (DS3, as well as the European E3 version) aggregation and internetworking applications over asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). The six-device chipset provides a total solution that takes up to 20 percent less board space than comparable solutions, and reduces power consumption by as much as 30 percent.

The chipset uses a seamlessly integrated network processor as a programmable traffic management and internetworking engine, and is ideal for line cards used in multi-service switches, access concentrators, Internet protocol (IP) routers and other high- performance, power-sensitive network equipment.

DS3 is a dedicated, private-line digital service designed for point-to-point communications at 44.736 Mbps, and is aimed at organizations that require very high-capacity Internet connections that surpass the capabilities of the more widely deployed DS1 (1.544 Mbps) service. Network operators also use DS3 circuits to multiplex 28 lower-speed DS1 connections into a single higher-capacity data pipe.

"This is the industry's first complete example of how network processor technology can make it dramatically easier to keep up with the accelerating service and bandwidth demands of the Internet," said Raouf Halim, senior vice president and general manager for Conexant's Network Access Division.

"For the first time, network equipment companies have a single, complete solution with excellent space and power efficiency, plus the scalability to perform new tasks, interface to higher data rates and support unique, value-added applications.

"This DS3/E3 programmable solution is the first in Conexant's planned family of network processor-based, WAN-access solutions that will integrate our best-in-class network processing platforms with our leading physical-layer technology."

Conexant's octal DS3/E3 solution is the first offering to emerge from Conexant's March acquisition of Maker Communications.

"By combining network processor products from the former Maker organization with Conexant's physical-layer Internet infrastructure solutions, we can offer a level of systems integration and software upgradability unmatched by any other communications semiconductor company," said Bill Giudice, vice president and general manager of Conexant's Broadband Internetworking Systems business unit.

"Conexant already had built a broad portfolio of ATM, T1/E1 and T3/E3 carrier, optical networking (SONET/SDH), digital subscriber line (DSL), and multi-service voice and data access concentration products," Giudice added.

"These products, combined with higher-layer protocol processors, deliver high-performance solutions tailored for the Internet infrastructure, broadband access and next-generation packet-based telecommunications networks."

Technical Details

Conexant's octal DS3/E3 chipset encompasses all of the processing functions required for a DS3/E3 line card through Layer 2 of the open systems interconnection (OSI) networking model. It consists of two of the company's CX28333 triple DS3/E3/STS1 line interface units (LIUs), one CX283332 dual LIU, one CX28348 octal DS3/E3 framer, one RS8228 octal ATM transmission convergence physical layer (PHY) device and one MXT4400 traffic stream processor.

Each device uses an industry-standard universal test & operations interface for ATM (UTOPIA) PHY interface for seamless local connectivity within the chipset solution. Conexant plans to offer more integrated solutions in the second half of the year.

Key device features include:

-- CX28332/28333 dual/triple DS3/E3/STS-1 LIU: Priced at $52 each for the
triple configuration and $40 each for the dual configuration in 10,000-unit
volumes.

-- CX28348 octal DS3/E3 framer: Priced at $105 each in 10,000-unit volumes.

-- RS8228 ATM PHY solution: Priced at $45 each in 10,000-unit volumes.

-- MXT4400 Traffic Stream Processor: Priced at $125 each in 10,000-unit
volumes.

Network processors are expected to replace many of the custom-designed chips used in today's routers, switches and other networking equipment. These chips, called application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), are difficult to design and build, and often take as long as two years to bring to market from conception to end-product adoption.

In contrast, a network processor offers an off-the-shelf solution that performs the same tasks but can be upgraded via software downloads to support new features, higher performance, and such next-generation capabilities as voice and video transmission over IP networks.

Conexant's complete octal DS3 solution is available immediately. The chipset is priced as follows:

-- CX28332/28333 dual/triple DS3/E3/STS-1 LIU: Priced at $52 each for the
triple configuration and $40 each for the dual configuration in 10,000-unit
volumes.

-- CX28348 octal DS3/E3 framer: Priced at $105 each in 10,000-unit volumes.

-- RS8228 ATM PHY solution: Priced at $45 each in 10,000-unit volumes.

-- MXT4400 Traffic Stream Processor: Priced at $125 each in 10,000-unit
volumes.

About Conexant Systems

With a revenue run-rate of approximately $2 billion per year, Conexant is the world's largest independent company focused exclusively on providing semiconductor solutions for communications electronics. With more than 30 years of experience in developing communications technology, the company draws upon its expertise in mixed-signal processing to deliver integrated systems and semiconductor products for a broad range of communications applications.

These products facilitate communications worldwide through wireline voice and data communications networks, cordless and cellular wireless telephony systems, personal imaging devices and equipment, and emerging cable and wireless broadband communications networks.

The company aligns its business into five product platforms: Network Access, Wireless Communications, Digital Infotainment, Personal Imaging and Personal Computing. Conexant is a member of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 Indices. For more information, visit Conexant at www.conexant.com.

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